“Time changes! But the sacrifice remains the same.” Pictured is a board in Ogilvie Street in east Belfast, sponsored by the EU and the Cosy Somme Association, showing, in black and white, a WWI soldier, who is comforting another solider, in modern gear and in colour. The emblems of the 36th (Ulster) division and Royal Irish Rifles are also shown.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01438 launched September 24th 2012
The colourful mural above is in Pearl Street, in the Willowfield area of east Belfast. It shows children playing and talking, depicted inside of a series of cogs.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01399 time of our lives year out team
Here are four small painted metal-work pieces, signed “B McC”, on the railings of the Ledley Hall Boys & Girls Club, just off Beersbridge Road in east Belfast. The pieces show the building, soccer being played in the shadow of Harland & Wolff – the goal is prevented by a giant red hand – and two boxers boxing – the club was originally a boxing gym (est. 1942), and girls playing hockey and netball.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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This mural and its accompanying plaques, at the mouth of Canada Street, commemorate WWI and celebrate the Victoria Crosses won by members of the 36th (Ulster) Division “For valour”: Cather, McFadzean, Bell, Quigg, Emerson, De Wind, Seaman, Knox, and Harvey. The main mural features insignia of more than thirty units of types ranging from machine gunners to vets. Repainted version of East Belfast Volunteers.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01390 X01391 east belfast volunteers 8th. batt. r.i.rifles 36th ulster division 1914 1918 cap badge transport brigade staff officers 9th w. vols 10th s. 107th m.g.c. machine gun coy. 110th field ambulance r.a.m.c. 15th 167th t.m.b. trench mortar batt. 121st royal engineers 233rd divisional employment c’batt 173rd artillery 153rd train 9th inniskilling fus. 10th tyrone derry ammunition donegall fermanagh y.c.v 48th mobile vets 16th co. down pioneers 109th 150th 108th 22nd armagh monaghan cavan central antrim 108th signal royal irish rifles fusiliers john mccrae In Flanders fields the poppies blow between the crosses, row on row, that mark our place; and in the sky the larks, still bravely singing, fly scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago we lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, loved and were loved, and now we lie in Flanders fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw the torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep, though poppies grow in Flanders fields. moina michael Oh! you who sleep in Flanders Fields, Sleep sweet – to rise anew! We caught the torch you threw And holding high, we keep the Faith With All who died. We cherish, too, the poppy red That grows on fields where valor led; It seems to signal to the skies That blood of heroes never dies, But lends a lustre to the red Of the flower that blooms above the dead In Flanders Fields. And now the Torch and Poppy Red We wear in honor of our dead. Fear not that ye have died for naught; We’ll teach the lesson that ye wrought In Flanders Fields. July 1st, 1916 5553 officers and men had been killed mournful praise glorious meaning in which no shade of contention can enter the lost generation freedom east belfast historical and cultural society
These three painted boards, in frames, on the exterior of the Connswater Community Centre, were unveiled this past December (2012). The first commemorates Titanic, the second the Somme, and the third the WWII Blitz.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01412 X01409 X01410 X01411 union castle dunvegan southern cross ulster prince white star olympic britanic eagle dunotter seaquest canberra harland and wolff ships men iron steel this mural commemorating the centenary launch of the rms titanic was unveiled by the rt. hon. lord mayor of belfast alderman gavin robinson on 21st december 2012 36th 16th 10th 1914 1918 glorious dead dear mother by the time you receive this i will probably be dead and god was with them as they passed over and the trumpets all sounded for them on the other side battle of the somme ranger andrew allen 1st batt. royal irish regiment ballymacarrett 1941 many killed in night of terror arp sgt. edward donnan irish guards 1940-1956
Graffiti next to a mural commemorating various battles of WWI reads “Prejudice is all in your head!” The Young Citizen Volunteers (YCV) were formed in 1912 and in 1914 became a battalion of the UVF.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01407 X01406 somme, ypres, arras, thiepval, st. quentin, grandcourt, messines, fricourt, young citizen volunteers
Above is a new mural in Templemore Street, at the eastern edge of the residential part of the Albertbridge Road. The mural features seven boxers: John Lowey, Billy Birch (’47-’54), Herbie Young, James Gorman, Ray Close (who fought Chris Eubanks to a draw for a World belt in 1993), Luke Wilton (’08-present), and Stephan Keenan. Information on-line is sparse, so please comment or e-mail.
Update: 2013-12-24 Two plaques have been added to the piece above, one showing the photographs upon which the portraits in the mural were based (except Keenan’s), and the other describing the process by which the Ulster-Scots mural was replaced as part of a project by Charter NI (along with the city council and the housing executive). It reads: “Communities Moving Forward Re-Imaging Programme Phase One. The concept of renewal, change and respect lies at the heart of the ‘Communities moving forward’ programme, which recognises the importance of creativity in all its manifestations and in all our lives, reflecting the heritage of our communities in a positive manner. Boxing through the generations showcases the positive images of this proud small community.” (Also: NIHE press release)
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Copyright © 2013 Peter Moloney M10279 in-progress shot
“Time Is Running Out” – Graffiti (including some fake clock hands) has been added to Rita Duffy’s ‘Banquet’ piece on the Cupar Way “peace” line. The whole board was featured previously.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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As part of the preparations for the centenary celebrations of the Ulster Volunteer Force, Fernhill House, in Glencairn Park to the west of the Ballygomartin Road, was refurbished. The house and park served as headquarters and training ground for the Ulster Volunteers. For images and video of the parade, which included people dressed in period costume, see the Tele. The name and insignia of the Volunteers — a red hand and the phrase ‘For God and Ulster’ — were re-used in the mid-nineteen-sixties, when the modern UVF was established.
A shot of the house in rough shape was featured on Extramural Activity last year.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
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In the course of its history, the UDA has flirted with the idea of an independent Northern Ireland and of a repartitioned Northern Ireland. This mural in Avoniel Street, just off Albertbridge Road in east Belfast, shows a Northern Irish island, supporting two masked gunmen, beneath a red fist. The Ulster Freedom Fighters (and its youth organisation, the Ulster Young Militants) was formed in 1973 to give legal cover to the UDA; the UFF was banned immediately, the UDA in 1992.
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Copyright © 2013 Seosamh Mac Coılle
X01388 u.y.m. terrae fillius quis separabit formed 1973 dee st. coy. ulster defence association
Extramural Activity 